Evo's Show/People Report
The Oregon Art & Rubber Stamp Festival
Aug 31 & Sept 1, 2002 - Portland, OR
Sponsored by Heirloom Productions

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Heyyyyyy, Folks...

Vendors
Products
People
Stuff

Every show is composed of "All Of The Above"
Don'tcha know,
So here's some of the stuff that I loved About the Portland Show:

Vendors:
Some new faces at Portland this year! New is always good ... especially when you have us "oldies" there too! And, each show each year is new to any vendor, new or established. Never the same, always changing. And that's a good "thang". It keeps all of us on our toes, and that's a good "thang", too!

Products:
I wish I could tell you I visited the booths and am now going to clue you in on all the new products that were at this show. Alas, not to be. Sooooooooo, feel free to email me and say ... "Shame on you, Evo!" But... if you live in that area and weren't there to see all the new products yourself???? Er, um, then Evo sez ... "Shame on you, Stamper; we missed you!"

Stamping People:
I can't say enough about you who were free to attend this show. From Darlene A who announced loud & clear in my demo/class on Saturday, "Evo, I love your emails, and I love you!" ... to those of you who confessed you owned some of our products & hadn't used them and wanted to be shown again why you bought them in the first place ... to the nurse-mommy that instantly produced a Telly-Tubby band-aid when I so gracefully stabbed myself with my exacto knife during a demo ... to those of you who brought your friends to our booth saying, "You need these!" ... to those of you who ever-so-patiently waited in line during the busy times ... and to all of you who just dropped by to say "Hi"!

Stuff:
Awright! Stuff! Another of my favorite subjects! "Stuff" encompasses all kinds of rambling things associated with going to the rubber stamping shows ... such as ... Lost Boarding Passes.

After checking in our luggage at the Tampa Airport, we drove to economy parking and boarded a shuttle. Just as the bus approached the parking lot exit, I realized I didn't have our boarding passes and yelled (in my best 62 year old lady-like way, of course) "Stop the bus!" After a longish walk and a frantic search of the car and our carry-on luggage, the tickets were found.

I had absent-mindedly (did I really just say that??? :{<>) placed our boarding passes in the only small carry-on I possessed ... a MacDonalds' bag containing a left-over sausage & biscuit bought before our trip to the airport. Mr Evo chuckled a lot over the whole episode; I have to admit, though, at that moment in time I failed to see the humor. :{/

Heirloom People:
Shows are only as good as their sponsors. In this case, Heirloom Productions. Pat & Eileen are real people, by the way, and they tend to listen to both stampers and vendors. Thanks, Pat & Eileen for all that you do.

Adventurous Stuff:
Have you ever ridden the MAX train in Portland? A group of us vendors did just that to downtown Portland for dinner Saturday & Sunday after the show. And would you believe it was the first time Mr Evo & I had ever done that? And, I assure you we'll definitely do it more often when given the chance. You tend to see the people and the area in a whole different perspective, and besides that, it's easy and fun!

Historical Stuff:
Did you know that McCormick & Schmick's (one of our favorite restaurants in downtown Portland) was originally a rubber stamp store? And then was a tire manufacturing establishment? Well, now you do. :}>

Art Stuff:
The drive to create and express is soooo evident whenever rubber stampers get together at a show. The room seems filled with an almost tangible barrage of vibrations that affects everyone in the area. This passion and love of creative expression is beautiful in any art form.

I was bombarded by these same vibrations in two unexpected places in Portland ... by a piano player at McCormick & Schmick's on Saturday night and a guitar player in Jazz Opus the next night. So often entertainers are simply that ... entertainers that know all the right moves and do it beautifully. Then you find "the real thing". The entertainers that are "one" with their instrument of choice. If you get a chance to enjoy the music of either of these two men, I encourage you to do so. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

People, again:
Tons of thanks to Enchy and Debbie F for all your booth help! You two have almost become fixtures in our Portland and Puyallup booths. I'm trying not to say it, 'cause I always say it, but it's true, so I gotta say it ... "We couldn't have done it without you!"

Card Stuff:
And speaking of cards ... Mr Evo & I stayed an extra day to enjoy the Portland area a tad more before leaving. We visited La Center for a few rounds of Black Jack on Monday. The cards were very good to me, and yes! I think my vibes of excitement were felt by those around me, for sure. :}>

The next show coming up for us is Del Mar, CA ... September 21st & 22nd. We're looking forward to seeing a lot of you there!

Ellen :}> Evo